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Glory Seed Devotional, 2016.08.29

Probably every person who will read this is familiar with the Twenty-third Psalms affectionately known as “The Shepherd’s Psalm”. I remember back in March of 1981 as I was being wheeled down the hall headed for open chest surgery to remove my thymus gland repeating over and over my own version of verse 4, “Yea, even though I am going into the shadow of death I will not be afraid.” I am sure at some point in your life The Shepherd’s Psalm has gotten you through some difficult and trying times, hasn’t it? Did you know there’s another version of the Twenty-third Psalm? One recited not by the Psalmist but by the Shepherd Himself, through the prophet Ezekiel. Its one thing to rehearse another’s testimony and believe the words are for you but quite another to hear them from the Shepherd Himself.

Mid-way through chapter 34 of Ezekiel the LORD not only speaks some stern words to the “Shepherd’s of Israel”, a few verses later He speaks powerful comforting, encouraging, and promising words for “sheep” like you and I. “I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak…” (Ezekiel 34:15–16, NLT, selected portions)

As important as the scriptures are in our quest to know the Shepherd it is essential to know the Shepherd already not only knows your name HE KNOWS YOU on a personal and intimate level! You’re not just a someone, you’re not just another face in crowd, to Jesus YOU are THE ONE, the one He gave His life for! When you wander off track He comes and finds you.

By the way not only is Jesus the Good Shepherd he is also the Good Samaritan in the parable HE told with that same name! “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.‘

(Luke 10:33-35 NLT)

Not only is Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Good Samaritan He is also the Ultimate First Responder! And unlike human first and secondary responders Jesus doesn’t whisk you off to an ER, He brings heaven’s ER to you.

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